Nepal has appointed Manoj Kumar KC as its new police chief after an emergency cabinet meeting replaced Dan Bahadur Karki before the end of his expected tenure. Karki has been assigned a newly created role as special security adviser to the prime minister.
The leadership change took effect on Wednesday 4 November. Karki, who had about 17 months remaining in his expected term as inspector general, has consulted lawyers about a possible challenge to the decision. It is not known whether he has filed a legal challenge or whether a court has ruled on the decision.
KC received the insignia of inspector general from Home Minister Sudhan Gurung at a ceremony at the Home Ministry in Kathmandu. Nepal Police said he then assumed office at its headquarters later on Wednesday.
The government said Karki had not been punished. Its spokesperson described the move as a change of responsibilities, saying the new advisory post was created at inspector-general level within the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
The stated purpose of the post is to provide the prime minister with security advice and recommendations aimed at strengthening peace and security. The government said KC, previously an additional inspector general, was promoted under the police regulations, with the appointment taking effect on 4 November.
Change at the top
Karki was appointed to lead Nepal Police on 10 November 2025. His replacement comes well before the anticipated end of his time in the post.
The lawyer Swagat Nepal said he had spoken to Karki and advised him to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
The ceremony for KC also departed from recent practice. The home minister personally conferred the rank insignia, a duty previously carried out by the home secretary. Nepal Police said KC later took up his duties at police headquarters and paid tribute at the memorial to officers who died in service.
New chief’s priorities
At the ceremony, KC pledged to uphold the constitution and the law and to protect the impartiality of the police, Nepal Police said. He asked the government for support with resources, legal clarity and operational autonomy, and for the force to be kept free from influence.
He identified cyber fraud, financial crime, deepfakes and misleading information among the challenges facing police. He also spoke of the need to strengthen disaster management.
KC highlighted internal concerns including shortages of resources and buildings, long working hours and fairness in transfers and promotions. He said an immediate mechanism would be put in place to address complaints from police personnel. Those are stated priorities and commitments, rather than changes already shown to have been completed.
Before his promotion, KC headed the Crime Investigation Department at police headquarters. He had previously led the Central Investigation Bureau and the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office. Nepal Police said he had also held district and police-training roles during his career.
As head of the Kathmandu Valley office, KC led an investigation into an alleged scheme to send Nepali citizens to the United States by falsely presenting them as Bhutanese refugees. Police arrested three suspects in March 2023, and the investigation later expanded to include organised-crime allegations. An arrest or an allegation does not establish guilt.
KC and Karki joined the police service as inspectors in the same 1998 intake. KC was among the senior officers considered for the top post when Karki was appointed. The new appointment places him in charge of the national force after Karki’s reassignment.
Featured image: AI-generated illustration.
